Shamballa bracelet

History:
Shambalha བདེ་འབྱུང་ (Shamballa or Shambala) is the Buddhist mythical kingdom of happiness where all people are enlightened. This land is believed situated somewhere in Asia.
Mala consists of beads strung on some cord originally and isused for Buddhist meditation, like the Rosary in the Catholic religion. Mala in Sanskrit means garland. It is used in Hindu and Buddhist meditation to count mantras. Malas are tipically made of 16, 27, 54, or 108 beads. It can be also 21 or 28 beads. the materials of the beads are chosen based on the porpuse of the manatras. General purpose malas can be made of Bodhi seeds or Lotus seeds.
  • Pacifying malas: White color malas (crystals, pearls, shells, mother of pearls) are used for purifying mind and clear off obstacles, illnesses, bad karma.
  • Increasing malas: to increase life span, knowledge, merit use gold, silver, copper.
  • Magnetizing malas: use some wood (saffron, sandalwood, peach, rosewood, mediterrainian oxblood coral)
  • Taming malas: to (Rudrashka seeds)






Shamballa bracelets are hot fashion items today. Mads Kornerup opened his store named "Shamballa" in Paris in 1994 to craft and sell jewelry inspired by ancient beliefs. He had a store in London, New York and Tokio. Today he moved back to Denmark. His designed pieces can be purchased for about 4-5000 USD and are favored by Hollywood celebrities. This example features black diamonds.



MACRAME

It is a knotting technique used to create various types of crafs and jewelry using cords and threads.
Among the different knots one of the most popular is the square knot

Here is an example of the knot used to create these cute macrame bracelets.






Tools:

Knotting Cords
(macrame cords, ribbons, leather cord, nylon cord, waxed poliester, waxed cotton cord, hank cord, satin cord, hamp or Hippie hamp)
  • 6 feet of thick cords (1-2 mm) (for wrapping the beads)
  • 2 feet of thin cord (upto 1 mm) (for stringing the beads)

Beads with 2mm holes
(Pavet crystal ball beads by Swarovski, Pandora Diamante, Beadelle, Cande, Beadcorp; rhinestone pave clay crystal; Pave crystal disco beads; or any other large hole beads)
  • 7-10 large hole beads (10 mm is best, Pave beads recommended)
  • 2 stopper beads, about 6mm
Optional:
  • 1 focal bead
  • 2x 8mm hematite beads for end
  • 1x slider bead

Other tools:
Hypo Cement, scissors, tape.

Note: If you choose to use other cords and beads, make sure your stringing cord fits the hole of the beads. If you use beads with very small holes, you can use the appropriate size Nymo threads or Beadsmith Silamide Nylon thread or Super-Lon (#10 or thicker) for stringing the beads.
Tutorials:


Blog tutorials

Mini-Macrame supplies


Pave Beads:

Slider beads:

Large hole gemstone beads:


Inspirations